URC Daily Devotion 5 May 2025

John 1: 1 – 5

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.

Reflection

Wow, what a beginning! In reading the opening of John’s gospel we can imagine it being accompanied by a fanfare of momentous music.  John certainly does not skimp in his description of the cosmic context of what is going on here.

The author is already familiar with what the other gospel writers have said about this Jesus Christ. He is well versed in Jewish learning and has a profound understanding of Greek thought and philosophy … and now brings all this together in this stupendously spiritual gospel. As John Marsh commented: “The result is a unified piece of theological writing unmatched in Christian literature.”

In contrast to the other gospels, John opens the stage curtain for his gospel drama not with Jesus’ lineage going back to Abraham or Adam but instead to creation itself. In fact, he wonderfully transports us to BEFORE creation, so that we see the entrance of Jesus not as a third Act development but having been fundamentally built into the very fabric of the whole dramatic narrative from the outset.   

Jesus is the Word, the Logos, which has resonances in both Jewish and Greek thought, and conveys a sense of the central essence, the creative purpose and dynamic being of God. This force was there, fashioning creation in Genesis and is here now at the beginning of this gospel forging a new creation.

And we the reader, the disciple, have the prime position, not just to sit in the stalls, but to step up on to the stage itself. We are privileged to be part of this wonderful narrative, to be invited to enter into this new creation through the loving transforming salvation that Christ brings.

I wonder in our day-to-day discipleship – perhaps at times routine and uninspired – do we really appreciate what an astonishing invitation is being offered.

Prayer

Creator God,
Numinous Logos
Saviour Christ
Co-eternal with the Creator
We stand in awe and wonder
We are overwhelmed with gratitude
As we begin to comprehend
the astounding grace
inviting us to enter your new creation.
Amen.